Andela knows there is nowhere else the talent shortage is more acute than with software engineers. It takes the best team, armed with fresh approaches to succeed. Listen to this webinar to hear Tray Lewin, CTO of Connect, share his secrets on how to build a high-growth engineering team right in the heart of Silicon Valley.

You’ll learn:
- How to deliver a quality product on-time when requirements change regularly
- Insights into tools, processes and day-to-day operations to manage a dev team
- How to create a company culture across your team, regardless of location
- Best practices on how to manage a team of 10 or 100 employees

Whether you’re a CTO building a new development team, or an engineering manager looking for ways to accelerate your product roadmap — this webinar is for YOU. The Andela team looks forward to having you there!

Click here to learn more about how Andela recently raised $24 Million from Mark Zuckerberg And Priscilla Chan’s Fund. The money will support Andela’s mission to train African engineers.

]]>http://whartonafrica.com/blog/2016/06/20/andela-presents-cto-series-how-to-build-a-distributed-tech-team/feed/0Tola Sunmonu Delivers Inspirational Commencement Speechhttp://whartonafrica.com/blog/2016/05/26/tola-sunmonu-speech/
http://whartonafrica.com/blog/2016/05/26/tola-sunmonu-speech/#commentsThu, 26 May 2016 12:37:19 +0000http://whartonafrica.com/?p=1043Continue Reading →]]>WASA is very proud of our 2015-2016 President, Tola Sunmonu who delivered a rousing speech at the Wharton MBA 2016 Commencement Celebration. The entire world witnessed Tola’s passion and visionary leadership, gifts that the members of WASA have enjoyed as she elevated our club to new heights this past academic year. Tola recently shared some insights about her Wharton experience in a blog post for WASA. Her speech begins at approximately 56:45. Enjoy!

]]>http://whartonafrica.com/blog/2016/05/26/tola-sunmonu-speech/feed/0Director of Lauder Institute of Management and International Studies Prioritizes Africahttp://whartonafrica.com/blog/2016/05/25/director-of-lauder-africa-priority/
http://whartonafrica.com/blog/2016/05/25/director-of-lauder-africa-priority/#commentsWed, 25 May 2016 11:02:51 +0000http://whartonafrica.com/?p=985Continue Reading →]]>The WASA leadership team was ecstatic when the Lauder Institute at the University of Pennsylvania announced the creation of a new Africa track to round out Lauder’s five other regional Programs of Concentration – East Asia, Europe, Latin America, South Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, and the Global program. This announcement makes Wharton the first top business school to launch an Africa Program.

We recently connected with Mauro F. Guillén, the Anthony L. Davis Director of the Lauder Institute of Management and International Studies, and Zandman Professor of International Management at the Wharton School.

He is a member of the Global Agenda Council on Emerging Multinationals at the World Economic Forum, and a winner of the Aspen Institute’s Faculty Pioneer Award. When asked how the administration of Wharton and Penn are thinking about the business opportunities in Africa’s emerging economies, Guillén said:

Africa is a priority for the Lauder Institute. Over the last few years, nearly a third of our students have chosen to travel to Africa for undertaking research or summer internships. Not just the Africa Program students, but those in our Latin American and East Asian Programs are keenly interested. The reason is clear: Africa is the next emerging frontier. Half of the fastest-growing economies in the world are in Sub Saharan Africa. And Africa will be by 2030 the second-largest region of the world in population, overtaking East Asia, and after South Asia (India).

In terms of the vision and value proposition for Lauder Africa, Guillén wants to equip all graduates with fundamental knowledge about Africa, and to offer the Lauder Africa Program students a deep immersion and knowledge about the continent, in all of its diversity.

Guillén says:

We believe Africa is the most important emerging region now. We are the first top business school to prioritize Africa in this way, and to offer a program of concentration. We recognize that there are many Africas, including Northern Africa, West Africa, East Africa, the southern cone, etc. We believe that acquiring experience and knowledge about Africa today will prepare our graduates for more successful careers over the next 5, 10, 20 or 30 years.

As WASA strives to educate our classmates about the business opportunities in Africa, which has some of the world’s most rapidly emerging economies, we are thrilled to see Lauder including Africa in their curriculum. The Lauder Institute has received an endowment fund for Africa-related activities from two alums. Guillén assures us that Lauder is in it for the long term telling WASA that “Africa will be a core region in the global economy in the future, and we want to be a leading educational institution in this respect.”

Guillén offered the following advice for candidates who wish to apply to Lauder’s Africa track:

Regardless of program of concentration, we are interested in candidates who have global leadership potential, passionate about inter-cultural issues, willing to learn a language or to practice their existing language skills, and interested in pursuing an international career in business. Students may join the program with knowledge of at least one language spoken in Africa (e.g. French, Portuguese, Arabic, Swahili, etc.). We also have an English-speaking program for those who are already proficient in a language spoken in Africa. Prior knowledge about Africa is not strictly necessary.

Lauder’s inaugural class is comprised of ten very impressive professionals who have a broad range of professional experience. We received the following insights from incoming Lauder Africa students:

Julia Enyart:

In 2016, six of the fastest growing economies were African. As part of Lauder’s inaugural Africa track, I am part of a group that recognizes the increased attention on a continent viewed as the next frontier for investment. As an international development professional who lived in Ghana and South Africa, I long ago became enamored by African business defined by energy, entrepreneurship, and ingenuity. I am honored to have the chance to merge my passion for Africa and desire to work in social impact with Lauder and Wharton’s renowned dual degree program.

Mona Kadouh:

Having been born in Liberia to a mother who was raised in Sierra Leone, Africa has a significant essence in my upbringing. I am keen to explore possible entrepreneurship ventures in Africa this summer, mainly in technology start-ups.

]]>http://whartonafrica.com/blog/2016/05/25/director-of-lauder-africa-priority/feed/0Top 10 highlights from WABF23 – My Africa Story: Lessons in Business, Visions for Impacthttp://whartonafrica.com/blog/2016/05/11/top-10-highlights-from-wabf23/
http://whartonafrica.com/blog/2016/05/11/top-10-highlights-from-wabf23/#commentsWed, 11 May 2016 02:48:58 +0000http://whartonafrica.com/?p=948Continue Reading →]]>WASA made history at WABF23. To reflect on WASA’s record-setting conference, Shalewa Odusanya – one of the co-chairs – shared the top 10 highlights from WABF23.

1. The largest conference at Wharton.

In November 2015, Wharton welcomed over 650 people for the 23rd annual Wharton Africa Business Forum “WABF23”. Our attendees were students from top MBA and other graduate programs around the world as well as professionals representing a diverse set of industries. Africa was on the agenda and the stage was set for what would be a power-packed weekend of developing new connections and exchanging ideas and exploring the business climate in Africa.

Shalewa chatting with guests during Day 2 of WABF23.

2. Impactful keynote addresses marked by standing ovations.

Our keynote speakers highlighted the significant opportunities in Africa for those who are willing pursue them. In the morning keynote, Anna Bossman, Director of Integrity and Anti-Corruption at the African Development Bank, and Donald Duke, Former Governor of Cross River state, Nigeria reminded us that it is Africans who have the power to change our own fortune. Mrs. Mosunmola Abudu, our afternoon keynote, prolific television personality and founder of Africa’s first Global black lifestyle network, informed us that the African dream is alive and well. Hakeem Belo-Osagie, our evening keynote, Forbes Africa person of the year and one of the most respected names in African business, reminded us that there is life after rejection as he shared the story of his 50 job applications and 47 rejections in his second year as a Harvard MBA student.

3. Pearls of wisdom from leaders in business.

With 60+ speakers, the conference was a master class on business in Africa. Attendees struggled to decide between multiple concurrent sessions. New session formats included industry deep dives in sectors that will drive the future of Africa’s economies. Notable among these were the Agriculture deep dive with Matthew Forti, Managing Director of One Acre Fund, the Telecommunications deep dive with Lucy Quist, CEO of Airtel Ghana, and the financial services deep dive with Colin Coleman, Managing Partner, Goldman Sachs South Africa.

4. Bridging the gap between Wharton and Africa.

The Forum, which was open to both Wharton students and the general public, gave our classmates the unique opportunity to connect with some of the best and brightest Africans and lovers of Africa in the diaspora. The prospective student session led by our very own Dean of Admissions, Frank Devecchis, was a full house of eager, aspiring, potential Wharton MBAs who learned about student life and academics at Wharton as well as some of our new Africa focused initiatives including the Lauder Africa program and Wharton Africa Growth Partners.

5. Showcasing the African (and Afropolitan) entrepreneurial spirit.

Sessions such as “What it takes to be an entrepreneur in Africa”, “How to get your Africa-focused startup funded”, “The Next List” and our venture competition which included a $5,000 USD cash prize focused on entrepreneurship. We were able to highlight the entrepreneurial spirit that is strong on the continent. “The Next List” featured young entrepreneurs in the diaspora who successfully turned their passions into profits. Our venture competition saw many submissions that highlighted the diversity of problems being solved on the continent and in the diaspora but ultimately narrowed down four very promising finalists to battle it out for the grand prize. Our sessions on securing venture capital funding for Africa-focused ventures and what it takes to be an entrepreneur in Africa were packed with eager entrepreneurs-in-the-making

Winners of the WABF23 venture competition.

6. Highlighting the presence (and importance) of women in Business.

As is the case in most business settings, women are underrepresented in business in Africa. We made it a central tenet of the conference planning to improve female representation in our speaker lineup. To this end, we were able to ensure over 40% of our speakers were female. We included a session that catered to aspiring young female professionals, giving them an opportunity to learn from more tenured businesswomen.

7. (Re)-connecting with alumni.

WABF23 saw record alumni participation. 25% of conference speakers were Wharton alumni, and more than 20% of all sponsorship came from alumni-owned organizations. Recent grads flocked to Philadelphia in droves.

8. Working hard, playing harder.

It has been said that Africans know how to party. We knew that the social aspect of the Forum would be just as important as the more formal programming. Therefore, we ensured that our participants had ample opportunity to connect and network with each other from small group dinners and a welcome cocktail reception on Friday night for our attendees to the gala dinner and after-party which featured a performance from Nigerian music sensation, Jidenna, to the farewell brunch on Sunday.

9. Dreaming big, setting goals and taking action.

In March/April 2015, we dreamed up a vision for WABF23. It was audacious, it was ambitious and some of it was pretty laughable. However, coming full circle and reflecting on the experience one year later, I realize that ideas and dreams really are a dime a dozen and execution is everything. It was by setting goals, creating a plan to accomplish those goals and working through that plan that we were able to put together an epic conference.

10. Connecting with the dream team through our shared experience.

WABF23 would not have been possible without the incredible effort put forth by the planning team who dedicated countless hours and committed themselves to realizing the vision we had set forth. My co-chair, Johan Ferreira, and I were blessed to have such a high-functioning team. At one point, a member of the team commented that we were the size of many startups in New York city (about 40 people). Thinking about our dream team in that context was very humbling for me. I am grateful for the leadership lessons I took from the experience and to my classmates for giving me the opportunity to grow and flex my leadership muscles through this experience with them.

]]>http://whartonafrica.com/blog/2016/05/11/top-10-highlights-from-wabf23/feed/0WASA Kenya Trek: Spring Break 2016http://whartonafrica.com/blog/2016/05/11/wasa-kenya-trek-2016/
http://whartonafrica.com/blog/2016/05/11/wasa-kenya-trek-2016/#commentsWed, 11 May 2016 02:23:32 +0000http://whartonafrica.com/?p=944Continue Reading →]]>Over Spring Break, two WASA board members (Ben Harms ’17 and Lauren McHugh ’17) led 32 other club members and partners on an 8-day trip to Kenya.

The group began in Nairobi, where they got to experience the capital’s culture and hear from a range of business leaders. Following the immersive city experience, the group spent several days on a world-class safari in the Maasai Mara, taking in Kenya’s breathtaking topographical landscapes and unique wildlife. The group ended the trip in Diani, just south of Mombasa, immersing themselves in Swahili culture while enjoying the white sand beaches along the Indian Ocean.

The trek leaders wanted to share a few key takeaways from their trip:

Nairobi as an innovation and startup hub

Our first order of business after stepping off the plane in Kenya was setting up SIM cards and M-Pesa accounts. The ability to make mobile payments has become a basic necessity in Kenya, and is what we used for transactions with taxi drivers, booking agents and safari guides. This innovation is symbolic of the broader fast-moving tech culture of Kenya, and Nairobi in particular. We visited the iHub, an open space for the tech community, which is the birthplace of startups like Ushahidi (a crowdsourcing software for tracking data in crises ranging from social unrest to natural disasters). Leaders from mKopa, Sanergy, BitPesa and m:Lab spoke to us about the industry challenges they face, such as the demand for tech skills outpacing the supply of coders. They also touched on opportunities for local startups, including the supportive and collaborative network of entrepreneurs across the city offering help and advice to fellow entrepreneurs. Lastly we heard from a Penn PhD candidate on thinking “Beyond M-Pesa,” and evaluating media messaging around tech and Africa.

Nairobi nightlife

We dined at restaurants that highlight the importance of immigrant influences on Nairobi’s restaurant culture. We feasted on tibs, wat, and roast mutton served over enough njera to cover our 20ft table, at a popular outdoor Ethiopian restaurant. At a lauded Indian restaurant in the heart of Nairobi’s Westlands nightlife area, we shared authentic homemade paneer dishes, ginger chicken wings and fish curry. The trek’s beer of choice was Tusker, a local lager produced by East African Breweries (Ltd). EABL has successfully maintained market dominance (over 80% market share) in Kenya, fending off global beer giants like SABMiller and AB InBev. A group also experienced Nairobi’s handcrafted beer subculture at Brew Bistro, one of Nairobi’s first microbreweries. Brew has won global awards for its house beers, best enjoyed to the backdrop of their Thursday night live music.

The business of tourism

Kenya is rightly renowned for its tourism – from its sprawling savannahs to its rich coastal history – and we certainly took advantage of its natural beauty, along with many other visitors. The sector had suffered over the past 5 years due to a number of circumstances – so we as trek leaders were enlightened to see the boost in popularity both in the Maasai Mara and at the Kenyan coast. The tourism industry is immensely important to Kenya’s economy. In 2015 it comprised over 10% of the country’s GDP and accounted for over 10% of its workforce. Looking forward, we’re optimistic about Kenya’s innovative, investment-heavy approach to protecting its fascinating tourism offerings. The country is a becoming a world leader in eco-tourism, it aggressively protects its wildlife and natural assets, and is increasingly integrating local culture into tourism in a sustainable way (as our trek members experienced at a traditional Maasai Village).

Be on the lookout for the WASA 2017 Kenya Trek next spring!

]]>http://whartonafrica.com/blog/2016/05/11/wasa-kenya-trek-2016/feed/0Outgoing WASA President Tola Sunmonu To Give 2016 Graduation Speechhttp://whartonafrica.com/blog/2016/05/11/outgoing-wasa-president-tola-sunmonu/
http://whartonafrica.com/blog/2016/05/11/outgoing-wasa-president-tola-sunmonu/#commentsWed, 11 May 2016 02:19:13 +0000http://whartonafrica.com/?p=936Continue Reading →]]> The entire 2016-2017 WASA Executive Board is thrilled to announce that our outgoing President, Tola Sunmonu has been selected to be a graduation speaker for the Wharton MBA Class of 2016. In just a few days, Tola will share her thoughts with the entire Wharton community in what we know will be a phenomenal speech. We connected with Tola for a Question & Answer to gain some insight into her Wharton experience and her future goals.

What are the top 3 lessons you learned this past year as WASA President?

One of my biggest lessons is around the importance of relationships. I have learned that the best way to manage people is by understanding them deeply, i.e. what motivates them, what are they going through right now and how does it impact their work and how can I be supportive.

I learned the importance of being a community builder. It is something that I have seen that is very innate in some other student leaders and something that I am working on. It’s amazing the things that happen once a strong community has been created.

I’ve also learned the importance of learning from failures rather than being crippled by them. It is so important to be honest not only with your team but also with yourself so you can course correct quickly.

What was the highlight of your year as President of WASA?

There are so many! One of our goals this year was to build a better brand for WASA on campus. Two memories stand out to me – one is seeing the dance floor packed during the WASA Afrobeats party, which is the first one we had ever done. The second was seeing standing-room only spaces during WASA lunch and learns because people in the Wharton community were so eager to participate in our programming.

Tola with members of the Wharton Africa Student Association on campus.

What was the biggest challenge you faced during your presidency?

The WASA team is so passionate and everyone wants to do good work so as a result there are a lot of moving pieces to handle and stay abreast of. Managing this balancing act was the hardest part of my role.

Tola with WASA members Kiki and Ash at WABF23

Tola with alumni at WABF23 reception

What are your post-MBA plans (and why was it important to you to go back to Nigeria)?

Post-MBA, my plan is to return to Nigeria to work for Mckinsey as a consultant. Prior to business school, I moved back to Nigeria to work for an agricultural investment company and soon decided that this was where my career would be based. I need to work on issues I feel strongly about. The development of Nigeria is something that I feel very motivated by. So, when I came to Wharton, I only recruited for jobs in Nigeria.

How would you describe the international student community at Wharton in general and specifically for Africans?

The international community at Wharton is a work in progress. This year, I was VP of international students for Wharton’s Graduate Association. I got the opportunity to work on issues as they relate to international students. There is a lot of room for improvement in terms of making sure that there is an increase in international content taught in the classroom to ensure that the perspectives of international students are drawn out more. However. through international groups, international students are able to gain a deep sense of community which is what I experienced in WASA in both years. WASA has truly been a family, some of my closest friends and fondest memories are from WASA.

Can you describe your commencement speech selection? What was the selection process? How do you feel about being selected? What can attendees look forward to from you in your speech?

I am incredibly honored to have been selected. The process is actually an audition which was really scary! Before I gave the speech, I was anxious because I felt that it wasn’t a ‘typical’ graduation speech. I just wanted to speak my truth and talk about what I have learned here at Wharton. The theme that emerged was the power of vulnerability. I have enjoyed every phase of writing my speech because it has allowed me to reflect deeply on my experience here and how I have evolved in this short time period. I am excited and a little nervous to deliver my speech. but moreover I am so proud of Wharton for giving me the opportunity to speak my truth!

]]>http://whartonafrica.com/blog/2016/05/11/outgoing-wasa-president-tola-sunmonu/feed/0Happy Holidays from WASA!http://whartonafrica.com/blog/2013/12/06/happy-holidays-from-wasa/
http://whartonafrica.com/blog/2013/12/06/happy-holidays-from-wasa/#commentsFri, 06 Dec 2013 10:10:58 +0000http://whartonafrica.com/?p=252WASA drew an exciting semester to a close this year with their Annual Holiday Party!
]]>http://whartonafrica.com/blog/2013/12/06/happy-holidays-from-wasa/feed/0Real Estate Development in Africa Case Studyhttp://whartonafrica.com/blog/2013/12/05/real-estate-development-in-africa-case-study/
http://whartonafrica.com/blog/2013/12/05/real-estate-development-in-africa-case-study/#commentsThu, 05 Dec 2013 11:40:03 +0000http://whartonafrica.com/?p=568Continue Reading →]]>On Wednesday, WASA held the third event of its WASA Speaker Series. Gary Lapera, of Michael Graves & Associates, led a discussion on real estate development in Africa.

The talk focused on the process and the outcome of projects in Cairo and Dakar.

Growth in emerging markets has changed not only the economic landscape, but also the built environment. Architecture and development should be a holistic process in which innovation is driven by necessity and reality, not vanity. This site-specific strategy is particularly applicable in Africa, which requires a nuanced approach to real estate development.

]]>http://whartonafrica.com/blog/2013/12/05/real-estate-development-in-africa-case-study/feed/0WASA Surpasses 100 Members!http://whartonafrica.com/blog/2013/12/04/wasa-surpases-100-members/
http://whartonafrica.com/blog/2013/12/04/wasa-surpases-100-members/#commentsWed, 04 Dec 2013 13:15:13 +0000http://whartonafrica.com/?p=255Continue Reading →]]>Last week WASA was able to welcome the 100th member in to the club, and memberships continue to rise in the mean time.

This is a massive landmark for WASA and illustrates a 100% increase from memberships last year. More importantly, WASA’s presence on campus has improved vastly and the cultural and educational impact which the club has had on the wider student body has been tremendous.

WASA would like to thank all its members and the executive committee for their hard work in making this club a success. We have big plans for next year and hope to continue this trend into the spring semester.

Tiffany Gooden, Director of Recruitment & Admissions at The Wharton School, describes the Wharton Africa Business Forum as a conference that ‘highlights one of Wharton’s greatest assets: the diversity of the student body’. The piece is showcased on the Wharton MBA Admission Blog and features a post from the Admission Committee.